Shannon Powell was born in New Orleans ,Louisiana on April 8 1962. By age 6 He was playing drums regularly for his church. From there it was a natural transition from the raw spiritualism and rythms of his church to the similarly driven style of traditional New Orleans jazz. Powell continued his informal schooling at age nine when he began visiting Preservation Hall. As a youth growing up in New Orleans living in the Treme' music was all around Powell.
His paternal grandmother Neronica Batiste played piano for silent movies and in the church. His godmother Thelma Martin and Aunt Celcia Bush ,who raised him, encouraged him to play music and bought his first drum set. Shannon now works with artist such as Wynton Marsalis Leroy Jones ,Greg Staford,Roland Guerin, Henry Butler, Jason Marsalis, Herlin Riley, John Boutte',Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfeild,and many many more.
Considered a living legend in New Orleans music, Shannon Powell is heralded as "The King of Treme," the neighborhood where he grew up in New Orleans, which has given birth to countless musical inspirations and innovations.
His paternal grandmother Neronica Batiste played piano for silent movies and in the church. His godmother Thelma Martin and Aunt Celcia Bush ,who raised him, encouraged him to play music and bought his first drum set. Shannon now works with artist such as Wynton Marsalis Leroy Jones ,Greg Staford,Roland Guerin, Henry Butler, Jason Marsalis, Herlin Riley, John Boutte',Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfeild,and many many more.
Considered a living legend in New Orleans music, Shannon Powell is heralded as "The King of Treme," the neighborhood where he grew up in New Orleans, which has given birth to countless musical inspirations and innovations.
